When I drop myself in his seat, he slams the door, and I jump.
The vibration still hums through me as he gets in and speeds down the empty road.
I don’t say a word. The scene of Luke’s blood running down his face flashes in my mind. I look over to Samuel’s knuckles, which are covered in the evidence everything that just happened is real. I can’t help the way my body shakes and the pulse in my wrist grows stronger.
Tears sting my eyes, and I let out a deep sob.
Samuel’s bloodied hand comes to my thigh, grabbing it, rubbing his thumb across to soothe me.
Normally, it would work. It would calm my nerves and make me feel safe, but right now, it is making my skin crawl. I attempt to push his hand off, but he grabs it again with a stronger grip this time. I close my eyes, letting the tears fall onto my lap.
“You need to prove to the Divine that you are sorry for your sinful ways, Eden.”
I look over to him through my blurry vision.
The tic of his jaw is prominent.
“What?”
“Are you not sorry for your whore-like actions?” He shoots me a firm look before facing the road again.
“I-I am,” I whimpered.
He pulls his hand from my leg and presses something below the center console. It clicks into place.
“I’m gonna need you to prove it to me. Prove to the Divine.” The button pops back out, and he reaches for it. “When you have these thoughts, and you feel like acting like a little slut for random boys”—he grips the steering wheeltighter, causing his knuckles to turn white—“you need to offer a sacrifice for those sins to the Divine.”
He pulls out a small piece that glows red and orange in front of me. I press farther into the passenger seat, not wanting it near me.
“Take it. Offer your sacrifice.”
I touch the top of it, and a searing pain runs down my hand. I take a sharp breath in, gasping at the burn.
“Take. It!” he shouted.
I can’t bring myself to reach for it. His hand drops onto my skirt and pulls it up to my waist. Not giving me a moment to stop him, he places the metal tip to my inner thigh.
A scream roars out of me, bouncing off the walls and windows. I try to pull Samuel’s hand away from me, but his arm is holding my leg in place.
He releases me after what feels like forever, and tears stream down my face as my whole body shakes from the pain. The smell of my burning flesh takes over the car, making me gag.
“That is one. One for letting that boy touch you.” He lifts the still hot object to me. “You will give yourself the second.”
“S-Second?” I ask through my cry.
“For cursing at me.” He stares out the windshield, looking like he is just as mad as I am pained. “Take it, Eden. I won’t ask again.”
My unsteady hand takes it from him.
His hand drops to my thigh again to hold the skirt at my waist. I look down at my red wound. With his hand right above my groin, he rubs me as if it will help me through this.
“Give your second to the Divine, Eden.”
My chin trembles, and the streams running down my face drop onto my chest. I close my eyes and slam the metal onto my thigh. Another scream bellows through the car.
I must have removed it from my skin too soon because Samuel clasps my hand to keep the burning metal to my thigh. He lets go and takes it. I don’t know where it goes, but when Samuel’s touch comes back, he cups my cheek, wiping the hot tears away, only to have more to replace them each time.
“You did so good, Eden.” His voice is softer now as he whispers compliments to me. “The Divine is going to be so pleased with your offering.” He taps me to look at him, and he smiles at me. “Now, you know what to do if you ever have those thoughts again, right?”
